Workload Characterization of Programmable Metasurfaces

TL;DR

This paper introduces a methodology to analyze the network workload of programmable metasurfaces, specifically beam steering HyperSurface devices, revealing bursty traffic patterns influenced by target position, aiding system evaluation.

Contribution

It develops a workload characterization method for programmable metasurfaces and applies it to beam steering HSFs, providing insights into traffic patterns and system requirements.

Findings

Traffic is bursty and highly dependent on target position.

Workload characterization aids early-stage network evaluation.

Results support performance and cost estimation for HSF systems.

Abstract

Metasurfaces are envisaged to play a key role in next-generation wireless systems due to their powerful control over electromagnetic waves. The last decade has witnessed huge advances in this regard, shifting from static to programmable metasurfaces. The HyperSurface (HSF) paradigm takes one step further by integrating a network of controllers within the device with the aim of adding intelligence, connectivity, and autonomy. However, little is known about the traffic that this network will have to support as the target electromagnetic function or boundary conditions change. In this paper, we lay down the foundations of a methodology to characterize the workload of programmable metasurfaces and then employ it to analyze the case of beam steering HSFs. We observe that traffic is bursty and highly dependent on the position of the target. These results will enable the early-stage evaluation of intra-HSF networks, as well as the estimation of the system performance and cost.